Woman reunited with her military father after over 40 years

On behalf of The Law Office of Lisa A. Vance, P.C. posted in Military Divorce on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

As many couples in Texas know, life's stresses and strains can put pressure on any relationship and military marriages are no exception. When there are children involved, matters can be even more complicated, especially if both parents are service people. Furthermore, when it comes to divorce, military families have a few extra factors to take into consideration. These range from military benefits to complex child custody arrangements.

For one woman, born to military parents in 1965, it has been a long road to be reunited with her father. Forced to divorce by the woman's maternal grandmother, her parents separated when she was a newborn. They had met in the military and hoped that the pregnancy would allow them to be posted together. Instead, the mother-to-be was discharged and sent home.

Following the divorce, the couple lost touch, while their daughter was taken and raised by her grandmother. She wanted to reconnect with her father, but it was only after the grandmother's death that her mother finally sent her a photograph. She was determined to find him, but the nature of military service meant that he had moved around a lot and was extremely difficult to track down.

A website for military families helped her track down the dates and locations of his service. Even so, it took years, countless letters and extensive searching before she found him. For most of her life, the fact that she was his daughter had been hidden from him by his mother and his daughter's grandmother. In 2010, she met him in person for the first time. Now 43, she is content that her family feels complete.

This woman's story has a happy ending, but it illustrates nonetheless the complications that face military families, particularly following a divorce. Nevertheless, it is possible to work through any of these obstacles and reach a more favorable outcome. Military divorce, like any divorce, is a fresh start and its difficulties should not be a deterrent. An attorney can help you tie up any loose ends and reach an agreement that best serves you and your family.

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